INSIDE SCOOP
Behind the CANESS Menu #2: Clear Gazpacho – A Sip of Spain at CANESS.
At CANESS, some drinks are made to refresh. Others are made to surprise. Our Clear Gazpacho does both. For anyone searching for the best tapas Sydney has to offer with something thoughtful in the glass, this is a drink made to begin the table with curiosity.
Inspired by the classic cold soup from Andalusia, Spain, Clear Gazpacho takes the bright, savoury freshness of tomato, cucumber, sherry vinegar and citrus, then transforms it into a crystal-clear cocktail designed to be sipped slowly.
A Modern Take on Tapas Culture
A drink arrives, a plate follows, another glass is poured, and the afternoon or evening starts to unfold naturally. This is the rhythm of a trendy tapas bar Sydney diners are drawn to: It is playful and a little unexpected, much like the way we approach food, drinks and hospitality at CANESS.
Clear Gazpacho feels right at home on the table: light, savoury and just unexpected enough to get people talking. It is an easy starting point for anyone exploring trendy tapas Sydney experiences or looking for trendy small plates Paddington locals can enjoy time and again.
From Andalusia to Oxford Street
Gazpacho is one of Spain’s most iconic dishes: chilled, vibrant, refreshing and deeply connected to the sun-soaked south. Traditionally made with ripe tomato, cucumber, olive oil, vinegar and bread, it is the kind of dish that tastes like warm weather and long afternoons.
Our Clear Gazpacho keeps that spirit, but reimagines it through the bar for the kind of relaxed best tapas Sydney experience where good plates, good drinks and good conversation share the table.
The drink brings together tomato and cucumber for freshness, fino sherry and vinegar for depth, lemon for lift, and strawberry oleo for a soft touch of sweetness. The result is tangy, savoury, silky and bright, a cocktail that feels both Spanish in origin and CANESS in style.
The Milkwash Process
The heart of Clear Gazpacho is the milkwash process. Milkwashing is a technique that takes time, but the result is worth it. When milk is added to an acidic mixture, it curdles. Those curds help pull out the harsher textures, heavier colour and rough edges, leaving behind a liquid that is smoother, clearer and more balanced.
In Clear Gazpacho, this process allows the savoury flavours to stay intact while creating a beautifully transparent drink. Each sip feels clean and rounded, with the brightness of gazpacho carried through in a more delicate form. As we like to say: good things take time.
To finish the drink, we garnish with sun-dried tomato, salty, savoury and full of umami. It is a small detail, but one that brings the cocktail back to its Mediterranean roots. It is rooted in tradition, but not bound by it. It respects the ingredients, then pushes them somewhere new.
The final result is a drink that looks almost impossibly clear, but carries the flavour of something much deeper: tomato, cucumber, sherry, citrus, vinegar, sweetness, salt and time. It is the spirit of Spain, sipped. Made for the curious, for the ones who never say no to something new, and for anyone drawn to trendy tapas Sydney with a glass in hand.
Made to Pair with Share Plates
The best drinks are never just sitting on the side. They are part of the whole table. Together, they create the kind of easy, unhurried meal people seek for when searching for the [best share plates Paddington] diners can enjoy over a long afternoon or evening.
Clear Gazpacho is made to move alongside our Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired plates, from bright seafood and grilled dishes to salty snacks and anything with a little smoke, acidity or richness. Begin with a glass alongside Marinated Spiced Olives, follow with Anchovies & Grilled Capsicums, then settle into a Grilled Mortadella Skewer. For more plates, explore our current menu here.
If you are planning a larger table, celebration or long lunch over the best tapas in Sydney, you can explore our group dining options. For a more intimate visit, book your table at CANESS Paddington and let the afternoon or evening unfold from there.